Background: Snake bite, till date remains a public health hazard in tropical countries, especially In India. A detailed review of Ayurvedic literature a unique “vishae and prativisha” concept explains Sthavar visha (vegetable poison) and jangama visha (animate poison) both kinds of poison destroy or neutralizes each other’s effects when used against each other. Thus in the present study Vatsanabha (Aconitum Ferox) was taken as Prativisha (antidote) against cobra venom (Naja naja) toxicity.

Methods: The lyophilized snake venom of cobra (Naja naja) LD50 0.49 mg/kg of rat dose was injected i.p and Snake venom antiserum was used as reference standard drug. Vatsanabha (Aconitum Ferox) given orally in two different classical dose as Madhyama (medium) & Uttama (high) dose as 16.83 mg/kg & 22.5 mg / kg body weight respectively in III & IV test group and evaluated its effect against venom on survival time, neurological observational signs, hematological parameters & Histopathology for Liver & heart.

Results: The survival time in test (III) group (87.2±23.8 min) was observed to be increased as compared to venom (II) group (71.8±14.8 min). Reverse changes are found in all biochemical parameters. Statistically reverse changes (p<0.01) was found in Neutrophils, monocytes & SGOT. Histopathology reports of liver & heart of test III group show mild (+) or absent (0) when compared to the Venom Group (+++=severe).

Conclusion: By considering the oral limitation, Vatsanabha has not shown direct Antidotal activity but there was an increase in survival time. The test III group has shown statistically reverse changes on neutrophils, monocytes & SGOT levels. The test III group (madhyama dose) had shown good protection on liver & heart cells against cobra venom (Naja naja) induced toxicity which suggests Vatsanabha may contain an endogenous inhibitor of venom-induced cell damage.

Keywords: Antidote; Cobra Venom; Naja Naja Toxicity; Vatsanabha; Visha Prativisha.